Amos stiffened as the image of Soamosa screamed. Screamed until her mouth sprayed blood, as though she had burst a vein in her throat. And still she screamed, writhing in agony, until at last she lay still, gasping, her eyes rolling back in her head.
Tears ran down Amos"s face unchecked. His arms held the weeping Captain Sung who clutched him in terror. The Captain had soiled himself in his fear, not understanding the screaming, nor Amos"s soothing words.
"You are evil," Amos murmured, "and you shall be destroyed by your own evil. He shall break you with a rod of iron."
Belazir appeared before him.
"We shall let her rest for a bit," Belazir said in a conversational tone. "Then, if you like, I have some other drugs whose effects might interest you."
Sung whimpered and screwed his head tighter against Amos"s ribcage, trying to hide from Belazir.
Amos glared at the Kolnari Lord. "She is only an innocent young girl, Master and G.o.d. Why do you torture her so? Is there no pity in you at all?"
Belazir crossed his arms on his chest.
"How can you ask that, sc.u.mvermin? Have I not given the Captain there to the only person on this ship who would care for him? It would be more convenient to s.p.a.ce him than to feed him."
Amos tightened his grip on the Captain"s quivering shoulders.
"Captain Sung has been injured in my service, Master and G.o.d," he said humbly. "It is my duty to care for him as best I can."
Belazir"s lip curled. "How touching. And he stinks so." Then the Kolnari smiled, he glanced at Soamosa where she lay at his feet. "Why, you have touched me," he said as though in surprise. "I believe that we shall give her a more relaxing injection this time." He looked back at Amos. "It will intensify feelings of pleasure and give her an overwhelming desire to please." He grinned evilly. "So you should enjoy watching this."
Belazir burst out laughing as the image of Amos and the brain-scrubbed s.p.a.cer faded, to be replaced by his son in the cell of the Bethelite woman. He"d seen sleazy adventure holos created for sc.u.mvermin fools that were more believable than what he was watching.
Belazir pounded the arm of his control couch and shouted laughter. Ah, the rock-jawed righteousness of that Amos, Ah, the rock-jawed righteousness of that Amos, he thought. he thought. And Karak, mooning over a piece of walking meat barely fit to serve a moment"s pleasure and breed slaves. And Karak, mooning over a piece of walking meat barely fit to serve a moment"s pleasure and breed slaves.
It was pleasant that Amos was totally convinced by the holos his technicians had prepared from a pirated Central Worlds program. There were flaws, but Amos appeared to have missed them. Due, no doubt, to the harrowing content of the recording. And it was exactly the sort of thing Belazir would would do. Always easier to believe what one expected. do. Always easier to believe what one expected.
He really would have to think of something suitable as a punishment for Karak. And yet, he wanted to see just how far this . . . romance, for want of a better word, would go.
He sat shaking his head in amazement as he watched Soamosa looking in wide-eyed wonder at Karaks stoic face. Then, tentatively, she placed her small hand on his and smiled.
Belazir began to laugh again as he started the next holo for the Benisur Amos"s edification. His youngest wife called from the chamber within: "How I yearn for you, lord of my life!" There was a waspish note to her voice.
"Antic.i.p.ation heightens pleasure," he called back. "And silence averts beatings."
Yes. This compendium of erotic fantasies. Tame to Kolnari eyes, but it would torment Amos unceasingly, playing on the insides of his eyelids when he squeezed them closed to shut it out. Run a modification program here here-
CHAPTER SIX.
Mr. va Riguez: I need to speak to you immediately on a matter of extreme urgency. Wyal Wyal is scheduled for departure at 03:00. Please contact me before then. is scheduled for departure at 03:00. Please contact me before then.
Sincerely, Captain Simeon-Hap
She should have signed it desperately instead of sincerely, Bros thought, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He leaned back in the big, faux-leather chair in The Anvils office. Bros thought, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He leaned back in the big, faux-leather chair in The Anvils office. Still, I"m surprised she said please. Still, I"m surprised she said please. That lonely plea didn"t seem to go with the imperious tone of the rest of her note. That lonely plea didn"t seem to go with the imperious tone of the rest of her note. Dyson must have taken me at my word. Dyson must have taken me at my word. He"d known the little weasel would. He"d known the little weasel would.
Sperin had authorized the clerk to fine Joat up to twenty thousand credits. Or at least to tell tell her he was fining her that much. In reality the fine shouldn"t be more than five or six thousand. Even that amount would be tough for Joat to sc.r.a.pe together. But her he was fining her that much. In reality the fine shouldn"t be more than five or six thousand. Even that amount would be tough for Joat to sc.r.a.pe together. But twenty thousand . . . twenty thousand . . . That was an absolutely staggering fine for any ship, let alone a struggling independent freighter like hers. That was an absolutely staggering fine for any ship, let alone a struggling independent freighter like hers.
Bros grinned. Ridding her of a fine that size ought to engender a lot of grat.i.tude, Ridding her of a fine that size ought to engender a lot of grat.i.tude, he thought comfortably. he thought comfortably.
Then his pleasure slowly faded. Joat Simeon-Hap wasn"t someone he"d like to see broken to the plow, jumping when he snapped his fingers, dancing when he pulled her strings.
He didn"t want CenSec to lose her. But I don"t want them to own her soul either. But I don"t want them to own her soul either.
Them? he asked himself in mild surprise. He frowned. It had been many years since he"d thought of CenSec as other than he asked himself in mild surprise. He frowned. It had been many years since he"d thought of CenSec as other than we, we, or or I I. Some of that girl"s independence is rubbing off on me, Some of that girl"s independence is rubbing off on me, he thought ruefully. he thought ruefully.
"Sal," he said. Getting up he went to the heavy-shouldered man seated at an overburdened desk and dropped Joat"s note in front of him. "Take care of this for me, would you? Joat Simeon-Hap"s ship, the Wyal, Wyal, has been fined by the station. Pay it out of my special account." has been fined by the station. Pay it out of my special account."
"Sure, Mr. va Riguez, no problem," Sal said. He had a voice like stones grinding together.
Bros picked up his jacket and swung it over his shoulder. "And if Captain Simeon-Hap should call looking for me, you don"t know where I am."
"I never do, sir," Sal agreed with a gap-toothed grin.
"But you might ask her if she"d like to leave a message."
Sal"s sandy eyebrows went up. "I"m not sure I"m old enough to listen to the kind of language she"s liable to use, sir."
Bros chuckled. "You tell her that," he advised.
Sal stared at the door after it had closed behind Sperin, then he glanced at the note again. I"ll take care of it tomorrow, I"ll take care of it tomorrow, he thought. he thought. It"s not like they charge interest. It"s not like they charge interest. He put the note aside and went back to work. He put the note aside and went back to work.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
"Rand, I want you to record this as it plays, all right?"
"Certainly, Joat. I had intended to anyway," Rand said. There was a faintly injured tone to the AI"s voice.
"All right, people, got your note screens ready?" Joseph and Alvec nodded. "Well, okay, it"s showtime!"
Joat entered the datahedron Bros Sperin had given her and keyed it up. For a few moments, as a fluid computer voice relayed the facts of Nomik Ciety"s life, the only sound was the click of styli as they took notes. But with the first holo snap, Joat looked up, and froze.
Her heartbeat speeded up until all she could hear was the sound of her own blood rushing. Pounding through her, beating against her fingertips, pulsing in her temples. Her sight narrowed to a tunnel sparked with black and white.
When at last she took another breath it roared in her ears like a cyclone.
Nomik Ciety, Nomik . .. Ciety. The face on the screen shifted from the scrawny, mad-eyed youth with a number across his chest to a grown man"s, well dressed and smooth. A respectable businessman to all appearances, with a friendly smile and a twinkle in his eye. Her own blond hair, face a little angular. Cheekbones like those that greeted her every morning in the screen.
Uncle Nom, she thought. she thought. You"re not dead! I was so You"re not dead! I was so sure you were dead. sure you were dead. She felt numb now, and her heart rate was returning to normal. It was in the nature of humankind, to believe in what they most deeply wished to be true. She felt numb now, and her heart rate was returning to normal. It was in the nature of humankind, to believe in what they most deeply wished to be true.
Joat closed her eyes and took a slow, quiet deep breath. Amos comes first, Amos comes first, she thought desperately. she thought desperately.
But memory bubbled up, eating away at the failing barrier of her will. She tightened her fist around the stylus, gripping it like a lifeline.
The part of her he"d betrayed screamed in frustrated rage: You were only seven! You were just a baby and he sold you to that sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You were only seven! You were just a baby and he sold you to that sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d!
She was looking back at Uncle Nom as a big, smelly, shambling man led her away, his grip like a clamp on her skinny arm. Uncle Nom was waving and smiling.
"Bye-bye," he called.
"Uncanom," she heard her own thin, little girl"s voice call out, "Uncle Nom!" Nom!" Tears blurred her vision. Tears blurred her vision.
She blinked, her jaw was clenched so hard the muscles jumped and she felt sweat begin to bead her upper lip. Joat took a deep breath, trying to keep control. Trying to deny what she felt, because it was joy. Sheer, undiluted joy; a savage intensity of feeling that nothing in her life had ever rivaled.
How nice that you"re not dead, Uncle Nom, she thought, fighting back a giggle. Knowing that she wouldn"t be able to stop if she started. she thought, fighting back a giggle. Knowing that she wouldn"t be able to stop if she started. And then they"d ask questions. I don"t want any questions. And then they"d ask questions. I don"t want any questions.
Uncle Nom was hers. All hers. My toy to break, My toy to break, she thought with gleeful viciousness. she thought with gleeful viciousness.
But she didn"t have to hurry. Now she knew about him. There was no way he could hide from her, no place in all the worlds.
Don"t look back, she warned herself. she warned herself. There"s nothing back there that isn"t going to cut you. There"s nothing back there that isn"t going to cut you.
The reminder didn"t work . . .
It was dark and she was huddled in a tiny s.p.a.ce, a s.p.a.ce that soon would be too small for her to hide in. She starved herself so that she could still fit, because he couldn"t reach her here. There was a crash of metal on metal.
"Come on out you little wharf-rat! You"re only makin" it worse!" His voice rose to a hoa.r.s.e shout at the end that promised broken bones.
There was a rattle then, and with a clatter the cover over the air duct fell away to reveal the captain"s fleshy, red face. He glared down at her, teeth gritted, breathing in a harsh rasp. Then he pulled back, thrusting his arm in to make a grab at her. Joat plastered herself against the duct, breathing in to make a hollow of her stomach. The blunt fingertips just brushed her clothing.
He pulled his arm out with a cry of rage and smashed his fist against the wall. Then his face appeared again.
"You"d better come out, little girl," he sang softly, with the purr of madness underneath. It was very bad when he stopped shouting and went quiet. "Or you"re gonna be sooorryyy."
And she knew that she had to leave her shelter and let him have her. Or he"d seal her in. He"d done that once before and . . .
A hot hand touched her and she started with an angry hiss, turning to glare into Joseph"s puzzled eyes.
"Jeeeezzz, Joe! Don"t do do that!" that!"
"I am sorry," he said. "I spoke and you did not answer. I did not mean to startle you."
"Sorry," she said curtly. "What did you want?"
"I said that this man is more dangerous than I had expected. I am uneasy allowing you to take all of the risk in this matter."
"I"m not helpless, Joe! And I"m not Rachel, so don"t even try to treat me like I am! I don"t appreciate it."
She saw surprise in the way his eyebrows quivered, then settled down. For Joe that marked a profound change of expression. For Joe that marked a profound change of expression.
Joat sighed, a little ashamed of her outburst. "I see nothing in this recording that gives us a reason to change our plans at this late date. Especially since our plans were to play it by ear and see what happens. You can"t be be more flexible than that, Joe." more flexible than that, Joe."
"As you say, Joat," he murmured.
Joseph caught Alvec"s eye over Joat"s head. An imperceptible nod confirmed his judgment. He had never seen Joat afraid, in all the years he had known her-not even when the Kolnari occupiers had walked the corridors of SSS-900-C. Or could she fear for her ship? Or could she fear for her ship? That was more than danger, it was a threat to her dream. That was more than danger, it was a threat to her dream.
"Joat," he began tentatively, "if you cannot pay the fine to New Destinies what will you do?"
"Lose the ship," she said succinctly, and shrugged. "My fault entirely. The fine thing really wasn"t such a good idea."
"Whatsisname, that guy?" Alvec said. "He"ll take care of it, right?"
"Sperin?" she asked. Joat made a moue. "I"d feel better about that if he"d bothered to get back to me. But if I"m lucky he"s already dealt with it." And if he hasn"t I"m beached. And if he hasn"t I"m beached.
"Can you not simply change Wyal" Wyal"s name and your name and begin again in another quadrant of s.p.a.ce? Surely you need not meekly surrender to them? If worst comes to worst, you can return to Bethel with me and we will shelter you." He saw her look aside and blink. name and your name and begin again in another quadrant of s.p.a.ce? Surely you need not meekly surrender to them? If worst comes to worst, you can return to Bethel with me and we will shelter you." He saw her look aside and blink.
"Thanks," she said quietly, in his language. Then she took a deep breath and went on: "First, I"m not ducking out on Amos, whatever it costs. Second, I can"t can"t welch- not without losing my reputation; and this"ll have gone out on the unofficial net too; they"d be after me like a sicatooth after a goat if I don"t pay up, not to mention the bounty hunters." She paused reflectively. "You know how it is." welch- not without losing my reputation; and this"ll have gone out on the unofficial net too; they"d be after me like a sicatooth after a goat if I don"t pay up, not to mention the bounty hunters." She paused reflectively. "You know how it is."
They nodded, and Alvec grunted agreement. You might get away with choosing the above-ground companies, but not the underworld. They had a primitive, straightforward approach to those who tried to cheat them.
"You don"t seriously think I"d risk visiting your wife and children with bounty hunters on my tail, do you?"
"No," Joseph said and smiled.
"Besides, if I ran, then I"d never see Simeon or Channa again. It"s not worth it." She stood and looked around the control cabin. "And," she went on, her hands closing into fists behind her back, "they"re not even close to getting Wyal Wyal yet. We"re going to Schwartztarr, and then on to Rohan." yet. We"re going to Schwartztarr, and then on to Rohan."
Bros Sperin leaned back from the screen. So, she"s gone. she"s gone. According to her itinerary Schwartztarr was her destination. According to her itinerary Schwartztarr was her destination. And she"s carrying a really weird cargo, going by the manifest. And she"s carrying a really weird cargo, going by the manifest. Most likely she was also carrying something Central Worlds would rather she wasn"t. Little Ms. Simeon-Hap was nothing if not enterprising. Most likely she was also carrying something Central Worlds would rather she wasn"t. Little Ms. Simeon-Hap was nothing if not enterprising.
Uncertainty tickled his mind like a cat playing with a piece of string. She can take care of herself, She can take care of herself, Bros told himself. Bros told himself. Don"t try second guessing yourself at this late date. She"s capable. Don"t try second guessing yourself at this late date. She"s capable.
Capable of unraveling his carefully made plans. She was like chaos on two feet when she put her mind to it. He knew felinoid species who thought more before they leaped. Of course, Of course, he had to admit, he had to admit, like them, she tends to land on her feet. like them, she tends to land on her feet.
But if she wanted to live long in this business, she was going to have to learn some caution. And some tact. And some tact. He grinned, Sal had told him a few stories. He grinned, Sal had told him a few stories.
Bros liked Joat enough to want her to live a very long time indeed. He"d especially liked the Joat he"d met on the bridge of her ship; she"d been more spontaneous, more natural.